Ecclesiastes 11
How, then, shall we live? Solomon has spent a whole lot of time despairing about the condition of this world—how many things are empty and meaningless and random! He says we don’t have control over our lives, and much of what we do goes either unnoticed or unrewarded. So, we must come to this question: How, then, shall we live?
And Solomon’s answer in this chapter seems to be, “Be bold! Be joyful! Do what’s right!” Nobody knows how many days, months, or years they will live on this Earth, but each day, we may decide to do those three things: be bold, be joyful, and do what’s right.
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1. Be bold. Solomon suggests taking every opportunity you have to work hard and invest: “Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return. Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land… Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” (vs 1-2, 6)
2. Be joyful. Don’t wait until some other time to enjoy your life. Enjoy today! This is how Solomon put it: “You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.” (vs 9a) Often, it is so easy for us to “put off” living until some conditions we’ve set up in our mind are met. Don’t wait! Live today!
3. Do what’s right. However, Solomon qualified verse 9 with this admonition: “Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.” (vs 9b) Nobody knew better than Solomon that all of our choices have consequences. So, while you’re being joyful and following your heart, remember to let it lead you to a place of integrity, honesty, and righteous living. Anything else will eventually unravel and destroy that joyful spirit! Be careful what you do with your freedom.
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God has always been interested in helping us live the abundant life. Long before Jesus came and said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10), God was speaking through His prophets to help us understand how we can get the most out of the days we have on Earth.
Today’s advice? Be bold! Be joyful! Do what’s right! Seize the day with these principles in your heart, and—no matter what today holds—you will live it abundantly in the freedom of God’s spirit. Truly, it is the only way to live!